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CDS & CAF CWO Professional Reading List

Introduction

In the profession of arms, our commitment to continuous learning is not just an obligation, but a vital aspect of our duty. Expanding our knowledge takes various forms, and one of the most impactful is through reading. By searching into the experiences and ideas of others, we not only broaden our horizons, but also elevate our leadership capabilities. In our pursuit of excellence within the profession of arms, we understand the value of a well-organized reading list.

You will find below a selection of the Canadian Armed Forces Chief Warrant Officer (CAF CWO), and I recommended reads- carefully chosen to inform and inspire. These readings have proven instrumental in shaping our understanding and enhancing our expertise. Join us on this journey of growth as we explore the profound insights contained within these recommended reads.

Some of the following books are available in their language of origin only. We are working with the Canadian Armed Forces Virtual Library (CAFVL) to have all books available and in both languages (when possible).

How to access the CAFVL

The CAFVL provides access to full-text journals, eBooks, audiobooks, and reports. The resources of the CAF Virtual Library are available to members of the Canadian Armed Forces and employees of the Department of National Defence directly from the DIN, the Canadian Forces College Academic network and the Royal Military College Academic network. To access selected database remotely, please submit a CAFVL Registration Form: Off Campus Request.

On this page

Chief of the Defence Staff

1. Canadian Military History

A War of Patrols: Canadian Army Operations in Korea – William Johnston

At the Sharp End – Tim Cook

Shock Troops – Tim Cook

The Necessary War – Tim Cook

Fight to the Finish – Tim Cook

Dieppe – Brigadier General Denis Whitaker

  • Available in print in English only
  • Not available - CAFVL

2. Theory of War / War History

The New Rules of War – Dr Sean McFate

The Allure of Battle – Cathal J. Nolan

War from the Ground Up – Emile Simpson

The Landmark Thucydides – Robert B. Strassler & Richard Crawley

Defeat Into Victory – William Slim & David W. Hogan Jr.

Fighting Talk – Colin S. Gray

The Campaigns of Napoleon – David G. Chandler

The Dynamics of Military Revolution 1300-2050 – MacGregor Knox and Williamson Murray

  • Available in English only
  • Not available - CAFVL

3. Future of War

The Utility of Force – Rupert Smith

Command – Anthony King

  • Available in English only
  • Not available - CAFVL

LikeWar – The Weaponization of Social Media

War Transformed – The Future of Twenty-First-Century Great Power Competition and Conflict

The Kill Chain – Christian Brose

4. Politic-Military

Trust – David Johnston

Blood, Metal and Dust – Ben Barry

The Dragons and the Snakes – David Kilcullen

Command – Lawrence Freedman

War: How Conflict Shaped Us – Margaret MacMillan

The Shadow War – Jim Sciutto

Danger Zone – Hal Brands & Michael Beckley

How Ike Led – Susan Eisenhower

Supreme Command – Eliot A. Cohen

How Communists Negotiate – Turner C. Joy

  • Available in English only
  • Not available - CAFVL

5. International relations / Situation

Military Orientalism – Patrick Porter

  • Available in English only
  • Not available - CAFVL

World Order – Henry Kissinger

6. Fiction-Intelligence

Ghost Fleet: A Novel of the Next World War – P.W. Singer & August Cole

2034 – Elliot Ackerman & Admiral James Stavridis, USN / 2034

The Forever War – Joe Haldeman

Old Man’s War – John Scalzi

Ender’s Game – Orson Scott Card

7. Leadership / Culture

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team – Patrick Lencioni

Drive – Daniel H. Pink

Ego Is The Enemy – Ryan Holiday

The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth – Amy C. Edmondson

Call Sign Chaos – Jim Mattis & Bing West

Meditations – Marcus Aurelius

Asking For It – Kate Harding

Hate in the Homeland – Cynthia Miller-Idriss

Out Standing in the Field

The Ones We Let Down

8. Decision Making

Thinking, Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman

Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain – John J. Ratey, MD (Spark by John J. Ratey, MD | Hachette Book Group)

Think Again – Adam Grant

9. Ethics

The Road to Character – David Brooks

Black Hearts – Jim Frederick

10. Asia-Pacific

How China Sees the World – Bradley A. Thayer & John M. Friend

Claws of the Panda – Jonathan Manthorpe

War Without Rules – Robert Spalding

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Canadian Armed Forces Chief Warrant Officer

1. Ethics

The Canadian Armed Forces Ethos - Trusted to Serve – Canadian Defence Academy

Code of Values and Ethics, Defence Ethics Programme

2. Leadership / Culture

Start with Why – Simon Sinek

The Speed of Trust – Stephen R. Covey

Make Your Bed – William H. McRaven

The Infinite Game – Simon Sinek

Who Moved My Cheese? – Spencer Johnson

Athena Rising: How and Why Men Should Mentor Women – David G. Smith and W. Brad Johnson

Difficult Conversations, How to Discuss What Matters Most – Douglas Stone, Sheila Heen, Bruce Patton

Systems Inspired Leadership – Frank Uit de Weerd and Marita Fridjhon

  • Available in English only
  • Not available - CAFVL

Leaders Eat Last – Simon Sinek

Belonging At Work: Everyday Actions You Can Take to Cultivate an Inclusive Organization – Rhodes Perry

  • Available in English only
  • Not available - CAFVL

Leadership: The Power of Emotional Intelligence – Daniel Goleman

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